BLADDER CANCER

Bladder cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the United States. The three main types of bladder cancer are transitional cell (the most common), squamous cell, and adenocarcimoma. Bladder cancer can occur at any age, but is more common in white men above the age of fifty. Fifty to eighty percent of all bladder cancers reoccur. When they return, the cancer is not necessarily the same type.

Smoking and genetics are the two main risk factors for bladder cancer. Symptoms of bladder cancer can be hematuria, painful or burning urination without the presence of a urinary tract infection, and changes in urination habits. Bladder cancer is detected by CT, ultrasound, IVP (intravenous pyelogram), cytoscopy, and biopsies. Treatment for bladder cancer is surgical removal of the affected area of the bladder, complete removal of bladder, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of any of the these treatments. Treatment is based on what stage the cancer is in. The cancer stage is determined by the amount of invasion into the bladder wall.